Evan Emory sings to a class of first graders in this still from his YouTube video. (YouTube)

(Newser)
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A 21-year-old singer-songwriter apparently thought a viral video could bring attention to his fledgling career. But Michigan's Evan Emory got more notoriety than he anticipated: His joke-gone-wrong has left him charged with "manufacturing child sexual abusive material," a felony that carries a 20-year sentence. Emory's gag was to appear to sing extremely graphic lyrics to a classroom of first-graders, reports MLive. In fact, he sang the kid-friendly "Lunch Lady Land" to the kids, then dubbed in the graphic lyrics after the fact when he posted the video on YouTube.

Prosecutors are still going after him, noting that the law covers instances when suspects only make it appear as if children were abused. "The bottom line is he walked in took advantage and victimized every single child in that classroom,” said one official. Parents who saw their kids' smiling faces on the video are outraged. The video has been pulled from YouTube.

Wow. What a dumbass. 20 years, no. A couple weeks and a seriously sincere apology to that classroom and each of those families with a TON of community service should suffice. Made a grave mistake in judgement here, but I don't think he intended harm on the level they're talking. Just a really moronic thing to do. This guy is just a seriously messed up kid...not getting an invite to my next party. Definitely not.

schopenhauer

Feb 21, 2011 2:37 AM CST

Crazy knee-jerk mentality of the US criminal justice system. This is why the US has more incarcerated people than all other countries combined! They say in the USA that, "You're either a felon or not yet convicted"...good luck there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lDr3DQnHo

TonyCoop

Feb 20, 2011 9:07 PM CST

Perfect example of why this country is not truly free. He could 20 years over a joke just shows how crazy this country is and how it doesn't seem to have a concept of context, people making jokes about this need to understand this could easily be them